Spring-fork for motor-cycles.



A. O. FEILBACH.

SPRING FORK FOR MOTOR CYCLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1912.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

anon Ko a A. O. PEILBAOH. SPRING FORK FOR MOTOR CYCLES. APPLICATION FILED AUG.23,1915Z.

1,952,808. Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

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ma n err ARTHUR O. FEILBAGH, OF NORTH MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN, ASSIGNDB. T0 FEILBA MOTOR COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ACOEPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 23, 1912. Serial No. 716,688

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ARTHUR 0. FEILBAOH, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring- Forks for Motor-Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention provides a novel formof spring fork for velocipedes and kindred machines embodying in their structure a fork in which the steering wheel is mounted and specifically the invention is intended to supply a spring fork designed most especially for motor cycles so as to relieve jar and shock alike both'to the machine and the rider, particularly when passing over rough roads and objects in the path of the machine.

The invention provides a fork which while yieldable is substantial and durable and capable of adjustment so that the tension of the spring may be regulated to suit the weight of the machine and rider, thereby enabling the full benefits of the springfork to be obtained.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims. I Y

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is aside view of a spring fork designed for motor cycles. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the fork on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking to the rear, as designated by the arrows. Fig. 4 is a, horizontal section on the line 4-4. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front view of the fork having the spring fork omitted and the lower portions of the ri 'd fork and truss braces broken away. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the upper end of the crown supporting rod and bracket, showing the connecting means. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1, showing the parts on a larger scale.

Corresponding and like parts, are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views ofthe drawings, by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the head tube of the machine frame in which the steering post 2 is mounted, said post being connected at its lower end to a yoke 3 and at its upper end to a crown 4. The steering post has ball bearings interposed between its end portions and corresponding parts of the their ends to the upper and lower portions of the members of the rigid fork 5 and pass through openings formed in the yoke 3, said truss braces being forwardly deflected in the plane of the yoke. spring fork are pivotally connected attheir lower ends'to links 9, which in turn are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the membersof the rigid fork 5. The axle 10 upon which the steering wheel is mounted is supported in the lower ends of the members of the sprin fork 6 and passes through openings formed in the front ends of the links 9. The upper ends of the spring fork members 6 are connected to' a crown 11, which is slidably mounted upon arod 12 having connection at its lower end with the yoke 3 by means of a T fitting 13 mounted upon a pin 14, which is supported in ears 15 projecting forwardly from and forming a part of the yoke 3. The rod 12 receives a compression spring 16 and a biifier spring 17, the latter being confined between the spring fork crown 11 and the tit-tin 13 and the compression s ring being con ned between the spring ork crown 11 and a part 18 mounted upon the upper end of the rod 12 and confined thereon in an adjusted position by means of a nut 19. The middle portion of the spring fork crown 11 is extended verticallv to form a'bearing sleeve 11 in which the rod 12 is mounted, a bushing 11 being interposed between the rod 12 and bearing sleeve to sustain the wear. The lower side of the crown 11 is recessed to receive the upper end of the buffer spring 17, which is housed and centered thereby. A casing incloses the compression spring 16 The members of the yatented Feb. M, 1913. v

and upperportion of the rod 12 and COlTlprises the part 18 and a part 20, the latter being a tube which is threaded at its lower end to the spring fork crown l1 andtelescopes at its upper end with the part 18, also a tube, and closed at its upper end.

The rod 12 extends above the casing and is threaded and makes detachable connection "with a bracket 21, which is forked and has its fork members attached to the pper ends of the fork members 5. The upper end of the bracket 21 has a forwardly extending opening 22to receive the rod 12. The inner end of the opening 22 is enlarged at the top and bottom to receive extensions 23 of nut-s 24 mounted .upon the rod 12, so as to retain it in place in. the bracket. By backing the nut 2tthe rod 12 may be swung forward clear of the bracket 21 to admit of ready access to the parts mounted upon said rod. A. yoke 25 connects the upper ends-of the fork members 6 to form a substantial structure. The spring fork 6 has its members pivotally connected with the crown 11 to admit of the free to and fro movement of such fork'at its lower end. Pins 26 are let into the ends of the-crown 11 and receive split bearings 27 at the upper ends of the fork members 6.

It is noted that the weight and strain are sustained by the yoke 3 and transferred to the spring fork 6' .through the rod 12, compressioip spring 16 and crown 11. When the steering wheel passes over an obstruction the springfork 6 and crown 11 move upward, thereby compressing the sprin 16 and on the rebound the buffer spring 1% absorbs the shock, thereby preventlng the same being transferred to the frame of the machine.

By proper adjustment of the set nut 19 the tension of the spring 16 may be regulated to suit the weight of the rider so as to obtain the best results. The truss braces 8 besides stiifening and strengthening the two forks also brace the yoke 3, thereby enablin it to withstand the strain and shock to whicl i it is subjected in service. v

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art to which the invention ap ertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Havin thus described the invention what is claims as new, is

tions of the fork members, a steerin postintermediate of the fork members an supported. in said connecting pieces, and truss laraces having their end portions connected to the upper and lower ends ofthe fork members and forwardly deflected intermediets of their ends and connected with the lower connecting piece between the fork members.

2. A steering fork for velocipedes and like machines comprising fork members, a crown connecting the upper ends of the fork members, a yoke connecting the fork members a distance from the crown, a steering post sup ported in said crown and yoke, and truss braces having connection at their upper and lower ends with corresponding parts of the fork members and having connection intermediate of their ends wlt-h the said yoke.

3. Supporting means for the steering Wheel of a velocipede or like machine comprisin a rigid fork, a spring fork, links pivota ly connecting the lower ends of the members of the two forks, a yoke having rigid connection with the rigid fork, a crown connecting the spring fork members, a rod having pivotal connection with the yoke and sliding connection with the spring fork crown, and a spring interposed between the spring fork crown and.a stop mounted upon said rod.

4. Supporting means for the steering wheel of a velocipede or like machine compri'sin a rigid fork, a yoke having connecpivotally connecting the lower ends of both fork members, a crownconnecting the spring fork members, a rod having pivotal connection with said yoke and having the spring fork crown slidable thereon, and springsarranged above and below the said spring fork crown and exerting a pressure thereon.

5. In supporting means for the steering Wheel of a velocipede or like machine, the combination of a rigid fork, a yoke having connection with the rigid fork, a spring fork, links pivotally connecting the lower ends of both fork members, a crown connecting the spring fork members, a rod passing loosely through said crown and havin pivotal connection withthe said yoke, a buI- the spring fork crown and the connecting means between the rod and-yoke, and a comportion of the rod and exerting a downward pressure upon the spring fork crown.

6. In combination a rigid fork, a crown connecting the upper ends of the fork members, a yoke connecting said fork members a distance from the crown, a steering post supported at its ends in the yoke and crown, truss braces having their ends connected with the fork members and secured intertion with the rigid fork, a spring fork, links fer spring mounted upon the rod between pression spring confined upon the upper noeaeoe mediate of their ends to the yoke, a 5 ring fork, iinks connecting the lower en s of both fork members, a crown connecting'the members of the spring fork, a fitting having pivotal connection with said yoke, a rod passing loosely through the spring fork crown and secured at its lower end to said fitting, a oufier spring mounted upon the rod between the said fitting and spring fork crown, a set nut mounted upon the upper portion of said rod, a compression spring mounted upon the rod between the set nut and spring fork crown, and a cap inclosing the compression spring and upper portion of the rod.

7. in combination a rigid fork, a spring fork, a link connection between the lower ends of the two forks, a yoke connecting the upper ends of the rigid fork members, a bracket having connection with the upper end of the rigid fork, a rod supported by means of the before mentioned yoke and bracket, a crown slidahle upon said rod and having the upper ends of the spring fork members pivotaliy connected thereto, and cushioning means for the said crown for relieving the shock and vibration.

8. in combination a rigid fork, a spring fork, a link connection between the lower ends of the two forks, a yoke forming connecting means between the upper ends of the rigid fork members, a bracket having connection with the rigid fork, a rod having'pivotal connection at its lower end with the before mentioned yoke and having detachable connection at its upper end with the said bracket, a crown slidahly mounted on said rod and having the upper end of the spring fork pivotally connected therewith, and cushioning means for said crown for sustaining and absorbing shock,

9. In combination a rigid fork, a spring fork, a link connection between the lower ends of the two forks, a yoke havin connection with the upper end of the rigid fork, a bracket at the upper end of the rigid fork, a rod having pivotal connection at its lower end with the said yoke and detachably connected at its u per end with the said bracket, a crown slidahly mounted upon said rod' and having the spring fork pivotally connected therewith, cushioning means mounted upon the said rod between the crown and bracket, and a casing for inclosing said cushioning means and comprissaid casing and to regulate toe tension of the cushioning means.

11. In combination a rigid fork, a spring fork, a yoke forming connecting means hetween the upper ends of the rigid fork memhers, a bracket having connection with the rigid fork and having its upper end formed with a forwardly eztendin opening which is enlarged at itstop an bottom, a rod having pivotal connection with the before mentioned yoke and having its upper portion threaded and adapted to enter or leave the opening formed in the before mentioned bracket, nuts mounted upon the threaded end of the rod and having extensions to enter the enlarged portions of the opening of said bracket to retain the rod in place, a crown slidable upon the rod and having the spring fork pivotally connected therewith, and cushioning means mounted upon the rod and adapted to sustain the shock and load.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presenceiof two witnesses. 4

ARTHUR 0. FEILBACH.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. JACKSON, AL. Hum. 

